Calling on the Government to protect the legal rights of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

As the MP for Poole, SEND is an issue my team and I deal with every week. I regularly hear from parents who are exhausted from battling the system just to secure the basic support their children need.

For families in Poole, this can mean fighting for a suitable school place where their child can learn and thrive, or struggling to have their individual needs properly identified and met - including access to a statutory Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

That’s why upcoming SEND reform must be about improving experiences and outcomes for children and families - not cutting costs, weakening rights or taking shortcuts.

After a decade of underfunding, shrinking school budgets, and rising need, the SEND system is at breaking point. Reform is urgent but reducing protections in a system that is already failing would be a devastating mistake.

SEND reform must be rooted in the lived experience of children and families and designed to work for those who need it most.

I will continue to stand up for families in Poole and take your concerns to the highest levels of Government.